AIKEN — A 3-year-old thoroughbred colt that was a winner during the 2025 edition of the Aiken Trials will be running for the roses May 2 at Churchill Downs.
Ocelli, who was on the also-eligible list for the $5-million Kentucky Derby, made it into the race’s field April 30 after Fulleffort was withdrawn because of a bone chip in his left hind ankle.
Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian are the owners of Ocelli, and Whit Beckman is the bay colt’s trainer.
Joe Ramos will ride Ocelli in the 152nd Kentucky Derby.
The 1¼-mile race has a 6:57 p.m. post time and will be televised live by NBC.
During last year’s Aiken Trials at the Aiken Training Track, Ocelli captured the Coward Trophy. Ridden by Joe Sharp, the colt completed a quarter mile in :23 4/5 while prevailing in a hard-fought battle in the stretch with Honey Dutch.
Travis Durr was the trainer of both Ocelli and Honey Dutch. They traveled from the Travis Durr Training Center in St. Matthews to participate in the Aiken Trials.
The Aiken Trials’ racing program identified Durr and his brother, Cody, as the owners of Ocelli, who was unnamed at the time.
Durr told the Aiken Standard that he and Cody had purchased Ocelli for $12,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling sale.
“I saw him in the back [walking] ring and liked the way he looked,” Durr said. “He was a big, athletic colt.”
Durr told also told the Aiken Standard that he owned Honey Dutch in partnership with Awestrike Racing.
The Aiken Trials are run for training purposes only, so the Coward Trophy victory doesn’t appear on Ocelli’s official race record.
The colt has finished second once and third twice in his six official starts.
In his last outing prior to the Kentucky Derby, Ocelli was third in the $750,000-guaranteed Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in New York on April 4.
Albus won the 11/8-mile race by 1 ¼ lengths over Right to Party. Ocelli was only a nose behind the runner-up at the wire.
